Automobile-body.



PATENTBD JAN. v31, 1905.

E. R HEWITT. AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLIOATION IILED JULY 18.1904.

2 SHEETS-BREE! 1.

PATEN' IED JAN. 31, 1905.

I B, R. HEWITT. AUTOMOBILE BODY.

LPPLIUATIOH FILED JULY 16, 1904 2 sinus-sum a.

' UNITED STATES Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMOBILE-BODY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 781,071, dated January 31, 1905.

I Application filed July 16, 1904. Serial No. 216,832.

is covered by the body, the object of. the invenrion being to provide novel means whereby the body or a portion of the same may be shifted from its normal position to exposethe engine for purposes of inspection or repairs.

The invention consists of a running-gear for the automobile, an engine, and front and rear body portions, one of which covers the engine and is mounted to slide to expose the engine.

The invention also consists of certain features and details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of an automobile embodying my invention. 2 2 of Fig. 1. line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detail view.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The running-gear has been shown as made up of a rectangular frame 1, springs 2, and wheels 3. The frame 1 is preferably constructed of channel -iron and has mounted thereon at a point between the front and rear wheels an engine 4.

The body of the vehicle is made up of the front and rear portions 5 and 6, the front portion 5 carrying the dash 7 and steering-post 8.- The rear portion 6 carries the seat9 and when in its normal position covers the engine 4. The same is mounted to slide upon the frame 1, so that when it is moved rearwardly the engine4 will be rendered accessible for any desired purpose. The side bars of the frame 1 constitute rails on which the body portion 6 may readily slide, and said body portion is itself provided with longitudinallyextending parallel. bars or strips 10, which Fig. 2 is a section on line Fig. 3 is a similar section on bear against the upper surfaces of said rails. To guide the body portion 6 in its sliding movements and to prevent lateral displacement of the same, guide-plates '11 are secured to the inner surfaces of the strips 10 and project downwardly therefrom and engage the inner surfaces of the side bars of the frame 1. One or more of the guide-plates near the forward end ofthe body portion 6 may be provided with,outwardly extending flanges 12. which engage the underside of the frame 1 to prevent upward movement of said body portion. When the body portion 6 is in its normal position covering the engine 4, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the same is locked in place by means of the screw 13, which extends through the rear cross-bar of the frame 1 and cooperates with an adjacent portion of the sliding body. The rearmost guide plates. 11 are adapted to abut against the rear cross-bar of the frame 1 for the purpose of limiting the rearward movement ofthe sliding bodyportion. It will be noted that the body of the vehicle is split or divided at a point between the seat and the dash and that while the rear portion 6 of said body is mounted for sliding movement the front portion 5 thereof is fixed in position. In order to secure the proper registration of these parts one with the other when the rear portion 6 is moved forwardly, a dowel-pin connection 14 between these parts is provided. This serves, in connection with the guideplates 11, to prevent any lateral movement or upward movement of the body. The two parts of the body may be further retained in normal'position by means of a hook 15, con; nected to one part thereof and adapted to engage a pin 16 on the other part.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that while the engine 4 is normally covered or protected by the body the same may be readily exposed for the purpose of inspection or repair by merely loosening the'screw 13 and the hook and sliding the rear body portion 6 rearwardly. The engagement of one or more of the guide-plates 11 with the rear cross-bar-of the frame 1 prevents the movement of the body portion 6 too far to the rear, and said guide-plates 11 serve, moreover, to prevent the lateral or upward movement of said body portion 6 While sliding. When the sliding portion 6 has returned to its normal position, it may be locked in place by means of the screw 13 and the hook 15.

Having described my invention, 1 claim 1. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, and front and rear body por tions, one ofwhich covers the engine and is mounted to slide to expose the engine.

2. An automobile comprising a runninggear. an engine thereon, and a body covering the engine made in two parts, one of which is mounted to slide on the running-gear to expose the engine.

3. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, and a body covering the engine and split or divided, between the dash and the seat, into front and rear portions, the latter being mounted to slide to expose the engine 4. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which covers the engine and is mounted to slide to expose the engine, and means for locking the sliding portion in normal position.

5. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which covers the engine and is mounted to slide on said running-gear to expose the engine, and means for locking the sliding portion to said. running-gear.

6. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which is fixed in position and the other of which covers the engine but is mounted to slide on said running-gear to expose the engine, and means for locking the body portions together.

7. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which is fixed in position and the other of which covers the engine but is mounted to slide on said running-gear to expose the engine, and means for locking the sliding portion to the running-gear and to the fixed portion.

8. An automobile comprisinga running gear, an engine, front and rear body portions,

one of which is fixed in position and the other l of which covers the engine but is mounted to slide on said running-gear to expose the engine, a dowel-pin connection between said body portions, and means for locking the sliding portion against movement.

9. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which covers the engine and is mounted to slide to expose the engine, and means for guiding the latter in its sliding movements.

10. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which covers the engine and is mount ed to slide to expose the engine, and means for preventing lateral and upward movement of the latter.

11. An automobile comprising a runninggear, an engine, front and rear body portions, one of which covers the engine and is mounted to slide to expose the engine, means for preventing lateral and upward movement of the latter, and means for limiting the sliding movement thereof.

12. In an automobile, a running-gear including a frame having parallel side bars, an engine mounted on said frame, a body covering the engine and made in two parts, one of which rests upon and is mounted to slide on said frame to expose the engine, and guideplates secured to the sliding partof the body and bearing against said side bars, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. in an automobile, a rmining-gear including a frame having parallel side bars, an engine mounted on said frame, a body covering the engine and made in two parts, one of which rests upon and is mounted to slide on said frame to expose the engine, and guide plates secured to the sliding part of the body and bearing against said side bars. one of said plates having a flange thereon which extends beneath the adjacent side bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

1 1. In an automobile, a running-gear including an open rectangular frame, an engine mounted on said frame, a body covering the engine and made in two parts, one of which rests upon and is mounted to slide on said frame to expose the engine, and guide-plates secured to the sliding part of the body and bearing against said side bars, one of which plates is adapted to engage one of the end bars of said frame for limiting the movement of the sliding part.

15. In an automobile, a running-gear including an open rectangular frame, an engine mounted on said frame, a body covering the engine and made in two parts, one of which rests upon and is mounted to slide on said frame to expose the engine, and a lockingscrew in one of the end barsof said framecooperating with the sliding part of said body for retaining said sliding part in its normal position.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD ltlNtiWUtll) llli\\'l'l"l. \Vitnesses:

FRANK S. Onun,

lVALDo M. (JuArIN. 

